How I Got Into SASS

The whole idea of competing in a sport where you dress up like someone from the American West of the 19^th century and have fun seemed like something too good to be true. The thought of funny scenarios, side matches, and dinners in period garb was beyond belief. But there it was in the magazine with pictures to prove it. The sport was called Cowboy Action Shooting and the organization was the Single Action Shooting Society. I looked for a club anywhere in South Florida, with no luck, but continued to dream about the day I’d get to participate.

For years I purchased any magazine that had an article about SASS, and finally called in to request a copy of The Cowboy Chronicle. The Chronicle arrived shortly and I read it cover to cover until it was literally in shreds. I used to read about how SASS was created to get away from IPSC and professional status, and even in the description of what SASS is about there was a statement that described SASS as wanting to stay away from the technical gamesmanship of IPSC. This was just perfect, because I had seen IPSC develop from a practical shooting sport where anyone could participate, to a sport ruled by the elite professionals, sponsorships, and big money.

It wasn’t until 2000 that I was able to attend a club shoot: The Gold Coast Gunslingers in Hollywood, Florida. I had no guns or gear, but went anyway just to watch. AS I drove up to park I was hooked! There were a bunch of folks all dressed up in their cowboy clothes, packing six shooters and sporting all sorts of hats! I felt like I had stepped back in time!

I spent that day walking around with my bullwhip wrapped around my shoulder (it made me feel a little less out of place with my shorts and sandals) and it was that whip that attracted the attention of someone that would become a lifelong friend: Doc Whiplash.

Doc approached me and introduced himself, explaining all about SASS and encouraging me to get involved. He even offered to let me shoot his revolvers if I stuck around ‘till the end of the match. I took him up on it and he said that, if I could conjure up the clothes, he’d supply the rest for next month.

The following month I showed up in parts of a Zorro outfit I had worn for Halloween: The hat, the flared vaquero pants, and a shirt (no cape!). I shot the match with Doc’s guns and leather, and had one hell of a lot of fun, starting a tradition of going for pizza afterwards. I went home itching to get my gear and join up!

It was still 2000 when I joined SASS as Bisley Joe, member number 29738. I was working two jobs and trying to put my life back together after a very disappointing series of events that left me penniless and almost homeless, but SASS something I had to do. I probably should have waited, but ordered a pair of Navy Arms Bisley revolvers (where I took my alias from), a rig from El Paso Saddlery, and a Marlin rifle. The shotgun would have to wait though.

Through Doc I got involved in a cowboy reenactment group called The Wyatt Earp Gunfighters and usually played a bad guy like Johnny Ringo, shooting it out and dying in parades, events, and private parties. I even got to reenact the Doc Holliday vs. Johnny Ringo scene from Tombstone at a real 19^th century faro table in private museum, spinning a nickel plated peacemaker and all. I was Ringo and Doc was, of course, Doc Holliday. I still call him Doc to this day.

I fell on some hard times again but continued to shoot when I could, always with Doc’s unselfish support, supplying me with ammo and a loaner shotgun. All I had to do was show up, shoot and have fun, and pay for lunch at the pizza place afterwards. Not a bad deal at all!

I made another good friend in SASS: Hellwood Blues, and the three of us had the pleasure of shooting together. Today I shoot a mule eared double shotgun that was a present from Hellwood.

Throughout this time I had been noticing some things developing in SASS that seemed inconsistent, even wrong. I wrote an article about this to the Cowboy Chronicle and it was published. When I posted on The Wire (The SASS online forum) however, the reactions I received were shocking. Here I was attacked from all angles, told to shut up and, when I didn’t, had my posts flamed to such a degree that it was impossible to continue any intelligent debate. When I defended myself I was accused of being rude. It was clear that I was expected to just shut up and get in line. I was astonished at how many people commented without thinking, or even actually reading what I was saying. People were responding not to my points, but to what others were saying about it. This was a sickening display of sycophantic behavior, of how people have, throughout history, gotten behind the “popular” and helped crush the few who dared speak out. The most shocking thing of all however was actually seeing how the moderators not only ignored, but at times encouraged the attacks.

The story only grew more sordid from then on. I got private messages from some people telling me how they, and many others, had been driven off the wire in the past by the same gutless, moderator-endorsed Wire Bullies. Some SASS champs exposed their elitism, the moderators got upset at my audacity to question their scared cows, and the accusations started flying. The moderators began to threaten me with being banned from The Wire unless I shut up while allowing my posts to be flamed and my private email to be spammed, and while permitting posts to be put up by the flamers titled “Ban Bisley Joe”. I was even “warned” by email that someone might show up at my door and shoot me dead. I was finally banned from The Wire shortly after holding Evil Roy’s feet to the fire.

Most of the squalid details are here for you to read. A lot of it is actually rather funny: how some people exposed their pettiness and lack of honor so proudly. Some of it is sad: seeing how a group as great as SASS has been overrun by a few loud mouthed, ignorant, malcontents that run roughshod over anyone with a dissenting opinion who they can’t threaten into silence (with the moderators’ help of course).

I’ll post the topics for you to read. You can decide for yourself what you think.

Bisley Joe